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Summer is over, and in many places the air is turning colder. As the weather changes be sure to take advantage of what the fall season has to offer. Even if you don\u2019t live in a place that sees a lot colorful leaves, there are fun family-friendly ways to get outdoors this fall:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Go apple picking<\/strong>. Sure, most of us can get apples year-round from the grocery store, but there\u2019s nothing quite like orchard fresh apples, picked straight from the tree during harvest season. That crunchy, tangy, sweet apple flavor is at its peak during this time of year. Many commercial orchards will let you pick your own. It\u2019s not only fun, it\u2019s also a great way to show kids where their food comes from. Get extras for canning applesauce, or making pies. When you\u2019re done, warm up with a delicious mulled cider.<\/p>\n \u2022 Go on a nature hike.<\/strong> Bring along a field guide to identify different kinds of trees. Look for wildlife collecting food for winter. Explain to kids how animals are starting to fatten up and grow thick, protective winter coats. Watch for migrating birds.<\/p>\n \u2022 Collect fall leaves.<\/strong> Press them into books or preserve them in glycerin. Paste them onto handmade paper to create greeting cards, or glue them between two pieces of wax paper to make an attractive sun catcher. Go lightly on the glue, or substitute crayon shavings to add color; use a warm iron to melt the shavings and hold the paper together.<\/p>\n \u2022 Take a hayride.<\/strong> Many farms offer hayrides during the fall. This is a great way to kick back and enjoy nature with smaller kids who may not be up for a long walk.<\/p>\n \u2022 Visit the pumpkin patch.<\/strong> Don\u2019t buy your Halloween pumpkin from the grocery store. Go straight to the source. Kids will love wandering around the patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin. Choose a couple of big ones for jack-o-lanterns, and grab a few smaller ones for painting or general household decorations. Smaller pumpkins make great additions to fall centerpieces. Roast the seeds in your oven with a sprinkling of tasty spices, and grab a few to make pumpkin pies.<\/p>\n \u2022 Visit a corn maze.<\/strong> Many farms earn extra income for the winter by turning their cornfields into large mazes. Test your directional sense, and get some fresh air in the process. Corn mazes are fun or all ages.<\/p>\n